Truly Test Kitchen @ Jun Jie Industrial Building (Macpherson Road)

The two young hawkerpreneurs that have started Truly Curry Rice at Telok Blangah Drive Food Centre has closed their stall and made a bold expansion move, taking over an entire coffee shop inside an industrial building at Kampong Ampat with a rather hip name - Truly Test Kitchen. Located on level seven of the industrial building, Truly Test Kitchen is a concept that consists of Truly Curry Rice, and another 3 other stalls - Truly Western, Mian and Handmade Meatball Porridge.

Hainanese Curry Rice 4/5

I was quite amazed to see the inner rice clean of gravy, after sitting there for quite some time with gravy coated all over. That to me was already a huge plus. The consistency of the curry allows it to just glaze the rice without drowning it. It is flavourful yet not overpowering the other dishes. I highly recommend their braised dishes - Radish, Chap Chye and Bittergourd.

Curry Chicken Noodle 3.5/5

Homely Noodle 3.5/5

From the Mian Stall, we had Homely Noodle and Curry Chicken Noodle. I have never seen such a huge portion for only $3.50. After observing that most customers working in the area will head straight to the rice stall without giving the noodles or porridge stall a chance. The two hawkerpreneurs increased the portion for a value return to counter that. Hence, both noodles and porridge are made extremely hearty to satiate their hunger. Homely Noodle is something that comforts your soul, while the Curry Chicken Noodle sets to fire your energy for the rest of the afternoon.

Homemade Pumpkin Cakes 3.8/5

Their Homemade Pumpkin Cakes are also worth trying. They are slightly differently from the usual. Crispy on the outside soft on the inside, the special sauce and chilli at the side make it extra moreish.

Meatball Porridge 3.8/5

Chunky homemade meatballs and velvety porridge, the liking for their Porridge is unanimous.  Thick and gluey, this hearty porridge is slow cooked for 2 hours to achieve such consistency. Hence, you wouldn't see your porridge turning watery till your last drop. That happens when potato starch was being added to quicken the thickening process. 

Chicken Chop Baked Rice 3.5/5

Chicken Chop 4/5

From Truly Western, their Baked Rice, Chicken Chop and Chicken Waffle ($4.50 each) are their popular dishes. Their baked rice is more towards the Hong Kong style. Perhaps it's the batter, I must say their Chicken Chop is really good, hence be it we had it by itself or as Chicken Chop Baked Rice, both were equally satisfying.  Their pasta, however, pale in comparison.

Pasta 2.8/5

Their Chicken Waffle ($4.50) may excite you as much as it had excited our table. Isn't it interesting to see how hawker food has evolved?  Some may see it in a negative way but such evolution may give people a chance to taste new things that is almost out of their imagination. This particular dish actually made an old couple coming back for it consecutively everyday for weeks!

Chicken Waffle 4/5

Joel and Deniece, former forex traders and colleagues, are the two young people who made it happened, barely after a couple of years after Deniece's dad handed over the hawker stall at Telok Blangah Food Centre to them. They took over the defunct coffeeshop on the 7th storey of the industrial building, spent months to get the entire space up and running, to what you see today. Hungry for success, you can see that in their eyes.

I can't imagine how this place was like back before Joel and Deniece took over, but to see so much energy going on at a level so high up in an industrial building on a Saturday, Truly Test Kitchen has definitely breathed a new lease of life into this place.

Written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.



[CLOSED]
Truly Test Kitchen
Jun Jie Industrial Building
153 Kampong Ampat
#07-05
Singapore 368326
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line), Aljunied (EW Line)

Opening Hours
Mon-Sat: 7am - 2pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit B.Walk down Harper Road. Turn right onto Playfair Road and then left onto Mactaggart Road. Walk to the end of Mactaggart Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the overhead bridge. Walk to bus stop opposite Aljunied MRT station (Stop ID 81081). Take bus number 62. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Kampong Ampat road. Turn left onto Kampong Ampat road. Continue on Kampong Ampat. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Fried Porridge (炒粥) @ Macpherson Road

The great tongues of the members of Food Intelligence Network Singapore (FINS) have unearthed another discovery in a coffeeshop along Macpherson Road. Fried Porridge (炒粥) is a little humble stall inside Delicious Coffeeshop specialized in cooking different types of porridge. I managed to have a brief chat with the chef and understand that he is from Ipoh, Malaysia.

As mentioned earlier, Fried Porridge (炒粥) specializes in cooking different types of porridge. The stall sells Seafood Porridge, Promfret Porridge, Red Grouper Porridge, Prawn Porridge, Minced Meat Porridge and the Signature Fried Porridge. The reason why I travelled all the way to Macpherson is to try the Signature Fried Porridge ($6/$10/$20). The first time I tried fried porridge was back in 2012 in a Penang Hawker Fare event. Hence I was looking forward to try the dish again when I heard it is available in Singapore.

The chef started with frying some ingredients such as the yam, cuttlefish, dried shrimp, pork etc first in the wok before adding in the porridge and then the dark sauce. The chef did not reveal much about the dark sauce but just told me he mixed it himself using local sauces and manage to get exactly the same flavour as in Ipoh. However he did say that he is still trying to fine-tune it to suit the local palate.

Before serving to the table, the fried porridge is transferred to a claypot and topped with pork lard, fried shallots, sesame and spring onions.

The pot of fried porridge still comes with the grainy bite. The dark sauce definitely elevated the flavour of the plain porridge while the cuttlefish, yam, dried shrimps, pork lard and sesame further accentuated the flavour and textures . There are also crab meat and lean pork in the porridge but just a little bit of it only.

Overall the fried porridge is very comforting and hearty. I do hope that there are more generous ingredients in the porridge but I do understand they have to watch their cost. The fact that they are probably the only place in Singapore cooking the Malaysian dish, it is a reason by itself for you to make your way down to try it.


[MOVED]
Fried Porridge (炒粥)
Delicious Coffee Shop
456 Macpherson Road
Singapore 368174
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line), Macpherson (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am - 8pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Macpherson Road. Turn right onto Macpherson Road. Continue on Macpherson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 16 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Macpherson MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight towards the temple. Turn left onto the walk path beside the temple. Walk to bus stop at Ubi Ave 2, Aztech Building (Stop ID 71169). Take bus number 8. Alight 4 stop later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 16 minutes. [Map]

New Taste Restaurant (新嘉飨) @ Macpherson Road

Macpherson Road is not somewhere that I will go often for a meal but after visiting New Taste Restaurant (新嘉飨), it seems I have more reason to do so now. Helming the kitchen is 26 years old Chef and co-owner Cao Yong 曹勇. Cao Yong is a new citizen having come to Singapore with his parents when he is 15 years old.

Just recently this year, Cao Yong represented Singapore in the World Chef Championship in Shanghai (世界厨王上海争霸赛) and came in first place in the team competition. He is also the team leader of the 4 men team that made Singapore Chinese cuisine proud beating teams from other countries especially China.

Chilled Pork Belly 3.5/5 and Smoked Duck 4/5

Dinner at New Taste Restaurant started with some appetisers. We had the Chilled Pork Belly with Garlic Sauce ($6.90) and Smoked Duck with Pickled Ginger ($8.90). The chilled pork bell paired with the cucumber whetted up the appetite with its refreshing and crunchy finishing. The smoked duck was tender and flavourful. Eaten together with the pickled ginger, it helps to cut through the greasiness and gaminess.

Handmade Crispy Long Cheese Stick 4.2/5

The Handmade Crispy Long Cheese Stick ($12.90) will be enjoyed by both the young and old. The cheese stick is filled with a mixture of cheese and potato. I was telling my dinner friends that it actually felt like eating samosa but in a stick form.

Vegetable Juice 4.5/5

I know of one Chinese restaurant that serves the Vegetable Juice ($4.90) but it was off menu. Hence I am very happy to find it at New Taste Restaurant and it does it even better. The juice is blended together with Hong Kong Cai Xin, Pineapple and Sour Plum. The other partner of the restaurant explained to us that the white cloudy appearance of the juice shows that it is freshly blended. This is a very refreshing drink especially for the humid Singapore weather. It does not have that earthy vegetable taste at all.

Marmite Chicken 3.8/5

Moving on to the mains, we started with the Marmite Chicken which is fried to crispy. The sweet marmite marination topped with sesame seeds is quite enjoyable with the sweet bitter aftertaste.

Deep Fried Spinach Beancurd with Fresh Mushroom and Black Truffle 4/5

The Deep Fried Spinach Beancurd with Fresh Mushroom and Black Truffle ($12.90) is a classic dish with the homemade silky beancurd. The earthy black truffle seems to give it an additional layer of flavour with the carrot and mushroom providing the extra texture.

Crispy Fried Prawn, Fruit Salad with Wasabi Cream 3.8/5

The Crispy Fried Prawn, Fruit Salad with Wasabi Cream ($21.90) received mixed reviews. The huge prawn was fresh and crunchy. However I find the wasabi cream was on the sweet side missing the pungnet wasabi kick.

Stir Fried Udon with Homemade XO Sauce and Black Truffle 4/5

At New Taste restaurant, besides the eclectic selection of cooked dishes, there are also one meal dish such as the Stir Fried Udon with Homemade XO Sauce and Black Truffle ($12.90) for those that just one to grab a quick meal. I understand that it is not easy to stir fried udon if the chef does not have a good control of his wok. The noodle can end up too soft or lumpy. My plate of udon turned out to have a nice wok hei with almost al dente bite to the udon.

Signature Crab Porridge 4.5/5

The highlight at New Taste restaurant has to be their Signature Crab Porridge that is good for 2-3 pax. Currently it is having promotion at $19.90 (usual price $39.90). The huge bowl of porridge comes with a whole mud crab. The porridge is the grainy type like Teochew porridge. What made the crab porridge so delicious has to the broth that is cooked with chicken stock and pumpkin. I think I can eat his everyday.

Lemon Glass Jelly 3/5

Dinner at New Taste restaurant finished on a sweet note with the Lemon Glass Jelly ($3.90). It was a refreshing and light dessert to finish the dinner. If the lemongrass flavour can be more distinct will be perfect.

New Taste Restaurant is actually split into 2 sections. One section offers ala carte dishes of modern fine chinese fare at affordable price, the other section offers steamboat buffet.

Promotion for SG Food on Foot Readers
Great news to readers of SG Food on Foot. You just need to show this article to the staff of New Taste Restaurant to enjoy a discount of 15% of your total bill (except for promotional items), valid until 30 November 2015.


New Taste Restaurant (新嘉飨)
476 Macpherson Road
Singapore 368191
Tel: +65 68485233
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line), Macpherson (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Macpherson Road. Turn right onto Macpherson Road. Continue on Macpherson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Macpherson MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight towards the temple. Turn left onto the walk path beside the temple. Walk to bus stop at Ubi Ave 2, Aztech Building (Stop ID 71169). Take bus number 8. Alight 4 stop later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Yu Cun Curry Fish Head (渔村砂煲咖喱鱼头) @ Upper Paya Lebar Road

If you having been travelling along Paya Lebar Road, you will notice the eye catching signage of a new restaurant located along the row of shop houses. Yu Cun (渔村砂煲咖喱鱼头) is opened by the owner Ah Guan, who has been in the food industry for many years. He started in a young age work at 长城菜饭 before starting his own zi char stall. I understand he owns a couple of zi char stalls around the island but opening Yu Cun Curry Fish Head is a dream as well as a new challenge for him in restaurant business.

Curry Fish Head 3.8/5

Being a curry fish head lover himself, Ah Guan decided to feature the Curry Fish Head ($24 small/ $26 big) as the restaurant's signature dish. The restaurant uses sea bream for its curry fish head. There is actually an additional charge of $2 to add vegetables. You can also have a choice of spiciness upon ordering. I tried the original version which is rather gentle in its spiciness. I personally prefer it to be spicier. Nevertheless, it will be suitable for families with children who can't really take too spicy stuff.

Pork Ribs with Ginger 4/5

Besides the curry fish head, Yu Cun Curry Fish Head offers quite a variety of cooked dishes on their menu. A memorable dish I tried is the Pork Ribs with Ginger ($7.80). Well infused with the marinade, the pork ribs were flavourful and tender.

Chicken with Radish 3/5

The Chicken with Radish ($10.80) caught my eye when I was browsing through the menu. I thought this is something not commonly found elsewhere so I ordered it to try. It is an interesting combination of flavours but was lacked down by the cooking of the chicken. It was too dry.

Rice Wine Chicken 3/5

Another chicken dish on the menu is the Rice Wine Chicken ($10.80). The used of rice wine has lifted the flavours and gave the dish a nice aroma. However once again, the chicken is on the dry side for me. Probably a fatter chicken or use the half/whole chicken to make it into a more elegant dish while retaining the moist would be a better choice.

Steamed Pork with Angel Gourd 3/5

Another dish I noticed on the menu is the steamed pork with a whole piece of bittergourd. Unfortunately it was not available during my visit, hence we settled for the Steamed Pork with Angel Gourd ($7.80) instead. It was pretty pedestrian, not much to shout about.

Fried Soft Shell Crab 4/5

It never came across my mind to order the Fried Soft Shell Crab ($12.80) in a Chinese restaurant. I usually had it in Japanese or Thai cuisine. The soft shell crab here is surprisingly quite good. It is different from the rest I have tried. The difference is in their batter. I tasted somewhat like prawn paste chicken batter. I think I also tasted five spices being added.

Overall the food at Yu Cun Curry Fish Head is decent. As they are newly opened, there are still grounds of improvement. Having spoken to Ah Guan, the owner. I can sense the passion in him for his food. I hope time is on their side as I really want them to succeed. I just feel that they need to get out from the shadow of their zi char days and make a bolder leap in the food for their new venture


Yu Cun Curry Fish Head (渔村砂煲咖喱鱼头)
147 Upper Paya Lebar Road
Singapore 534849
Tel: +65 62860491
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yucunfishhead
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit A. Continue straight along Upper Paya Lebar Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

The Boiler @ Howard Road (Tai Seng)

A new seafood joint has opened in the industrial area of Tai Seng by a group of bankers. The Boiler is a South American inspired seafood joint that serves up fresh seafood in Louisiana style. The spacious premises, high ceiling and its communal dining setup sited at the heart of Tai Seng industrial area stand out like a shining gem among the concrete forest. I was there on a Tuesday night and the restaurant is packed with diners.

Beerita 4.2/5

Besides being a seafood joint, The Boiler also offers imported French and Louisiana crafted beer. Not to be missed is there signature interpretation of the margarita, Beerita ($11.90). This is indeed a refreshing start to my seafood dinner.

Bacon Shrimp 2.8/5 and Louisiana Spicy Mid Joint Wings 4.2/5

We started our dinner with some like bites in the Bacon Shrimp ($11.90) and Louisiana Spicy Mid Joint Wings ($8.90).  I thought the bacon shrimp was rather average. The prawn was too dry for my liking. On the other hand, the wings was excellent. The tangy marination plus the crispy and juicy wings won me over.

Fish & Chips 4.5/5

A surprise discovery at The Boiler is the Fish & Chips ($12.90). This is probably the best fish & chips I have ever eaten. The fish was extremely moist under the crispy batter coat. It somewhat felt like the fish was coated in a fried chicken batter. You just need to experience it to know the different.

Southern Chicken & Waffles 3.8/5

By now most will know that I am not a big fan of sweet and savoury combination. The South Chicken & Waffles with maple syrup ($9.90) maybe interesting for many but not me. However being objective, my praise went to the tender, juicy and crispy southern chicken. I would gladly enjoy the whole piece of the southern chicken myself.

Lobsicle 3/5

An interesting item on the menu is the Lobsicle ($15.90 half/ $28.90 full). This is probably one of the first in town with the lobster flesh being coated in a batter and deep fried. Sad to say, it did not manage to wow me.

Boston Lobster in Garlic Butter 4/5

Boston Lobster in Peppa's Butter 4/5

Now let us move on to the star of the restaurants, the boiled seafood with their special homemade sauces. Currently until end of the month of September 2014, The Boiler is have a special promotion for their Boston Lobster ($75), going at $49 per piece. The boston lobster can be cooked in a choice of Garlic Butter, Peppa's Butter or The Work which has 3 level of spiciness. Boiling lobster simply allows one to enjoy the natural sweetness of the flesh. For me, the difference of Boiler to other similar joints is their sauces. I have the opportunity to try all the 3 sauces and I have enjoyed all of them. No wonder the co-owner has been tight lip about the recipe of the sauces.

Boiler's Bombdiggity Bag 4.2/5

Similar to the concept of Crab in de Bag, the seafood is boiled and served in a bag with the sauce. You can choose to eat from the bag or pour them out on the table. There is only one rule. Be prepared to get your hands messy. We tried the Boiler's Bombdiggity Bag ($139) which is good for 4 person. In the bag there are dungeness crab, prawns, mussels, clams, sausages, corn & bun. For a smaller group, you may opt for the Boiler's Duo Bag ($49) which is good for 2 person. It comes with everything per the bombdiggity bag except the crab. Similar to the boston lobster, there is a choice of 3 sauces, Garlic Butter, Peppa's Butter or The Work which has 3 level of spiciness.

There is not much I can complain about the food or ambience. It definitely got the ticks from the group. My only warning is that it can be pricey however do note your are paying from fresh and quality seafood.


The Boiler
Novelty Bizcentre
18 Howard Road
#01-06
Singapore 369585
Tel: +65 66351285
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoilerSG
Website: http://theboiler.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Tue-Fri: 1130am - 230pm
Dinner
Sun-Thu: 5pm - 1030pm
Fri-Sat & Eve of PH: 5pm - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Harper Road. Turn right on Playfair Road. Turn left on Mactaggart Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

RamenPlay @ BreadTalk IHQ (Tai Seng)

RamenPlay is no more just about ramen from this March onwards. The casual Japanese dining restaurant will be introducing a new a la carte menu with a diverse selection of signature ramen specialties and wholesome donburi sets. The menu now is expanded to include a new Donburi Set section which encompasses five hearty and affordable donburi (rice bowl) sets that use premium Koshihikari rice from Niigata prefecture known for its highest quality rice production in Japan, distinctive flavour and sticky texture.

Tori Momo Don Set 4.2/5

The value for money Tori Momo Don Set ($12.80) features a sunny yellow topping of steamed egg and chicken flavoured with special Shoyu sauce atop a bed of premium quality Koshihikari rice. The set also comes with Agedashi Tofu and Miso Soup. The use of Koshihikari rice which is grown with melted snow water is already half a battle won with the delicious offering. The special Shoyu sauce was the star for me holding the dish together and bringing out the rich flavour of the grains.

Teriyaki Chicken Don Set 4/5

For those that prefers a heavy and more robust flavour, the Teriyaki Chicken Don Set ($12.80) is a good choice. The classic dish of tender chicken thigh were pan fried and seasoned with Teriyaki sauce, sprinkled with silvers of crisp seaweed and served with Agedashi Tofu and Miso Soup.

Cha Shu Don Set 4/5

The Cha Shu Don Set ($12.80) is served with complimentary miso soup and mini salad. Crowned with a slow cooked onsen egg, the pork belly is diced up so that every mouthful comes with the teriyaki marinated pork belly. If there is more of the delish marinated pork belly then it would be perfect.

Pork Yakiniku Don Set 4.2/5

Topped with an onsen egg and thinly sliced grilled pork glazed with RamenPlay's special sauce, the Pork Yakiniku Don Set ($12.80) also comes with complimentary mini salad and miso soup. Give it a good mix to enjoy the creamy combination of flavour and texture. Worth mentioning is the salad that comes with the unique red tosaka seaweed giving it an extra crunch and nutritious benefits.

Chicken Katsu Curry Don Set 3.5/5

The Chicken Katsu Curry Don Set ($12.80) also comes with a choice of pork loin. The breaded chicken cutlet was succulent and paired with a hearty curry gravy. The curry gravy is an interesting blend of Japanese and Indian style, giving it a unique flavour of its own.

Crispy Dango 4/5

Yaki Gyoza 4/5

If the donburi set is not enough to satisfy your hunger, some of the all time favourites sides such as the Crispy Dango ($3.60 for 3 pcs) and Yaki Gyoza ($3.60 for 3pcs/$5.80 for 5pcs) will be a delightful snack to supplement the whole dinner. The chicken meatballs were juicy and flavourful. The gyoza was also deliciously crisp on the outside and moist inside.

Sanpou Tonkotsu Ramen 4/5

Pork lover will rejoice in this three in one Sanpou Tonkotsu Ramen ($16.80) that contains three treasures of Toroniku (braised pork cheek), Cha Shu (braised pork belly in cha siew sauce) and Buta Kakuni (braised pork belly in special sauce) in a tonkotsu soup base. This delicious bowl of ramen is accompanied by half a braised egg with a runny centre, generous silvers of preserved bamboo shoots and spring onions

Butariki Ishinabe 4.2/5

One of the signature item at RamenPlay is the Butariki Ishinabe ($13.80) that is served in a sizzling stone pot of rice and pork. What's more interesting is the stone pot rice bowl comes with both pan fried and barbecued pork, two ways of enjoyment. What hold the whole dish together is the addictive RamenPlay's special sauce which was also used in the Pork Yakiniku Don Set.

Chilled Shiratama Zenzai 4.2/5

A meal is not complete without dessert. New on the menu is the Chilled Shiratama Zenzai ($4.80). The chilled shiratama zenzai features a comforting combination of chewy glutinous rice balls and chunky azuki bean paste. Drizzled a bit of the Kuromitsu sauce (borwn sugar syrup) to give it an aromatic boost.

Warabi Matcha Mochi Ice Cream

The other new dessert is the Warabi Matcha Mochi Ice Cream ($4.80). Consists of three elements in the vanilla ice cream, sweetened azuki beans and warm chewy matcha mochi cubes. A delectable combination to end the dinner on a sweet note.

Constantly pushing the envelope to create new dishes that showcase the chefs' versatility in Japanese cuisine, RamenPlay's latest offerings are inventive while retaining classic Japanese flavours. The new five Donburi sets are both hearty and affordable, definitely worth a try.


RamenPlay
BreadTalk IHQ
30 Tai Seng Street
#01-03
Singapore 534013
Tel: +65 64445516
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramenplay
Website: http://www.ramenplay.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the traffic junction of Paya Lebar Road and Macpherson Road. Cross the road to Airport Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]